Articles Tagged With: Mark Briner

Jekyll & Hyde at The Havre de Grace Opera House

Reviews October 12, 2024 Amanda N. Gunther Leave a comment

Mesmerizing. Haunting. Lingering. Distill the theatrical experience into a singularity of words and those are the three that flash immediately to mind. Look further still behind the façade for evocative sensationalism, hypnotic chaos, captivating moments of song, movement, and storytelling…and you just might find yourself seated in The Opera House of Havre de Grace for Jekyll & Hyde. Adapted for the stage by Steven Cuden and Frank Wildhorn, this musical thriller appears on the Opera House stage just in the throng of the calendar’s most haunted month.

Grease at Tidewater Players

Reviews September 24, 2024 Amanda N. Gunther

Grease is the word…is the word…is the word… is the word… it’s on stage… it’s here now…

At Tidewater Players for two weekends only (and be careful to pick your Grease very carefully when you make your ticket selections because Tidewater is offering Grease-OG and Grease-Elite, where the Elite production cast is comprised of performers age 55+ so if you’re hoping to see someone you know,

Oliver! at Tidewater Players

Reviews May 10, 2024 Amanda N. Gunther

I’m reviewing— the situation! Or as the case may be— the production! Of Oliver! at Tidewater Players this spring. And it is not your grandma’s Oliver! which is arguably one of the best things that can be said for a production of this show, as so many people write it off as either a children’s show or Annie with boys. This production is neither of those things and I’ll raise all the flagons of ale in the tavern in a grateful cheer to that!

Escape to Margaritaville at Tidewater Players

Reviews February 24, 2024 Amanda N. Gunther

Reset your mind to island time. Because it’s five o’clock somewhere. And for the next two weekends, it’s five o’clock in Havre de Grace as the Tidewater Players presents Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville. Directed by Dickie Mahoney, with Musical Direction by Chris Rose, and Choreography by Evyo (and tap-choreo by Bambi Johnson), this ‘throw-your-cares-away’ silly good time show is just what the doctor ordered in these chilly winter months. And if you really want to be on “island time”?

Elf at Tidewater Players

Reviews December 9, 2023 Amanda N. Gunther

If you find yourself short on cheer just think about that special year (no, not 2019 that was a different year…same story) that Tidewater Players reached up on their shelf…and put up on their stage a musical called Elf! It’s sparkle-jolly-jingle-twinkly! Or however it goes (this Christmas Grinch over here still hasn’t finished writing out her Christmas cards…) but however it goes— it goes with lots of razzle-dazzle seasonal pizzazz! Elf at Tidewater Players is a heart-warming,

(L to R) Austin Barnes as Barry Mann, Heather Wadler as Cynthia Weil, Julie Parrish as Carole King and Mark Briner as Don Kirschner in 'Beautiful' ????Matthew Peterson

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical at Tidewater Players

Reviews September 25, 2023 Amanda N. Gunther

Hey. I gotta prediction. You wanna hear it? Tidewater Players production of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical is going all the way! Don’t write off this jukebox musical, featuring the music & lyrics of Carole King, Gerry Goffin, Barry Mann, and Cynthia Weil (and a book by Douglas McGrath) because its actually a heartwarming story that reads extremely well on an intimate stage, like the one Tidewater Players is working with at The Opera House.

Head Over Heels at Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre

Reviews June 2, 2023 Amanda N. Gunther

I had no choice— but to hear you. You stated your case time and again. I thought about it—

I’m in the wrong story. Wait one moment please!

There is a Prince…well, princesses? And falling flags. And a non-binary Olympian (in the sense of the Gods on high not in the sense of gold-medal-winning…though the gold Doric dress of the shiniest lamé all the way from the Amazon is certainly prize-worthy!) and calamity and chaos and a good time.

Cats at Tidewater Players

Reviews September 17, 2022 Amanda N. Gunther

With Cats some say one rule is true: get your tickets for Tidewater Players’ production this fall. It is like no other production of Cats ever seen or that will ever be seen. The stunning immersive world of T.S. Eliot and Andrew Lloyd Webber come swirling together in a mystical, magical, Jellicle production directed and choreographed by Bambi Johnson with musical direction by Chris Rose. There are singing cats, there are dancing cats,

Jellicles Can And Jellicles Do: Meet Gus

Interviews September 16, 2022 Amanda N. Gunther

For he was once a star of the highest degree… as we wind down to our last two felines remaining…are you ready to meet Asparagus? Or might you better know him as…Gus? MEOW!

Thank you for taking a moment of your time to talk with us, could you tell us who you are and who you play?

Mark Briner: My name is Mark Briner, you know that. Don’t I write for you?

Jellicles Can And Jellicles Do: Meet Euterpeco

Interviews August 27, 2022 Amanda N. Gunther

Jellicle Cats meet once a year at the Jellicle Ball where we all rejoice! A very special Jellicle Cat joins in the rank of these fantastically talented feline performers, giving us their take on being involved with Tidewater Players’ production of Cats. (For those of you frantically scanning your script trying to find Euterpeco… like Macavity, he’s not there. We’ve made this name up especially for the show’s Musical Director, as Euterpe is the Greek Muse of music.)

Thank you for giving us some of your time!

Tigga Smaller (left) as Crystal, Kalea Bray (center) as Ronette, and Isabel Bray (right) as Chiffon in Little Shop of Horrors. Photo: Matthew Peterson.

Little Shop of Horrors at Tidewater Players

Reviews February 25, 2022 Amanda N. Gunther

If you’re looking for something to see in Havre de Grace’s theatre district one day— Shoop da-doo!

You might pass by this place on Union Street— downtown-da-doo!

And sometimes in that there opera house building— arts-da-doo!

You’ll find some crazy amazing theatre stuff happening inside— Tidewater Players-da-doo!

But don’t take my word for it— take the urchins’! Or take Seymour’s! They’ll tell you that Tidewater Players is putting on a pretty crazy,

Go Downtown- Where The Urchins Go: An Interview with Isabel Bray, Kalea Bray, and Tigga Smaller and their experiences with Little Shop of Horrors at Tidewater Players

Interviews February 23, 2022 Amanda N. Gunther

Downtown…there’s no rules, you know. Downtown… you’ll have to see their show. Downtown… the urchins of Skid Row— this one’s about the-ee-eem. There on Skid Row. That’s right— Crystal, Ronette, and Chiffon— the urchins of Skid Row and in a sit-down TheatreBloom exclusive, we’re talking with Tigga Smaller, Isabel Bray, and Kalea Bray on what it’s like to play the ‘ensemble’ of an ensemble-less show.

Thank you all so very much for taking some time to sit and talk with me.

Winter Wonderettes at Tidewater Players

Reviews November 16, 2018 Amanda N. Gunther

You’ll shoot your— wait. No. That’s later. Before you shoot your eye out with your Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time, have your turkey gobbled up by the Bumpuses hellhound dogs, and do the leg-lamp kick-line for your Major Award, settle into 1968 at the Harper’s Hardware Store annual Christmas Party! And guess what? There’s a wintery surprise— because this year?

Chess at Tidewater Players

Reviews September 7, 2018 Amanda N. Gunther

Are you where you want to be and who you want to be and doing what you always said you would? Tidewater Players, the resident theatre company of Havre de Grace, is where they want to be and who they want to be and doing what they always said they would! Making a bold move by opening their 2018/2019 season with a politically charged production of Chess (the musical in concert), Tidewater Players stands to set the tone for their season with this shocking opening gambit.

Altar Boyz at Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre

Reviews July 6, 2018 Amanda N. Gunther

There’s a brand new sound goin’ ‘round the world and it’s going to ‘altar’ your mind! It’s the Altar Boyz live in living color at the Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre and they’re going ‘altar’ your mind for sure! Directed by Mark Briner with Musical Direction by Ken Kimble and Choreography by Becca Vourvoulas, this poppy, enthusiastic musical will spin your head right round, get your feet stomping on the ground, and really get you down on your knees— praising along with these altar boys!

1776 at Tidewater Players

Reviews May 9, 2018 Amanda N. Gunther

I say this with humility in this— online open space! They’re your responsibility in— good ol’ Havre de Grace! If you want to see their show and all the feelings that they spill, in Havre de Grace Opera House that’s halfway down the hill, then for God sakes get thee to it! For Congress never will! Yes, yes, it’s not even July and the Tidewater Players are calling to order the second continental congress of America with their production of 1776.

Without a Clue at Tidewater Players

Reviews February 23, 2018 Amanda N. Gunther

It was the butler, in the drawing room, with the candlestick! Only, of course, it couldn’t be the butler because he never had a suspect card. In this zany original comedy, Without a Clue written by Mark Briner, six unsuspecting suspects are brought together for an evening of merriment, which quickly maligns itself to be an evening of mayhem and murder! It’s the usual suspects and a few wild cards getting the game underway,

Beauty and The Beast at Tidewater Players

Reviews November 18, 2017 Amanda N. Gunther 2 Comments

Aha! Oui, oui, mah friends! The day we have waited for may be at hand! The Tidewater Players are producing Disney’s Beauty and The Beast. Ah…Beauty and The Beast. Think what that means! They’ll be singing again! They’ll be dancing again! They’ll be dressing up in glitter galore! They’ll be acting again! They’ll be living again! They’ll be entertaining audiences by the score! And The Tidewater Players,

Review: Spamalot at Cockpit in Court

Reviews July 17, 2016 Amanda N. Gunther

If you trust in your soul, keep your eyes on the goal, then the prize you won’t fail— you’ll find your grail at Cockpit in Court this summer with their second mainstage production, Monty Python’s Spamalot. Directed by Laurie Sentman Starkey with Musical Direction by R. Christopher Rose, this instance of comedic musical theatre has a little something for everybody. Be you a Monty Python fan, a musical theatre fan, neither,

It’s Not That Kind of Thing: A “Love”-ly Interview with ASGT’s Director Mark Briner and Co-Stars Jamie Austin Jacobs and Hayley Briner

Interviews May 31, 2016 Amanda N. Gunther

The year is 1985! The hair is big. The greed is good. The collars are up. And love is in the air. Actually, it’s 2016 and the hair is pretty flat, all things considered, greed is grody, and the collars are thankfully back down where they belong. Love is, however, STILL in the air and more potent than ever as Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre kicks off their 50th season with a production of the 80’s-themed The Wedding Singer.

Just Listen to That! The Voice of Argentina: An Interview with the Leads of Evita at Spotlighters Theatre

Interviews April 13, 2016 Amanda N. Gunther

Oh what a circus! Oh what a show! It’s quite a sunset, but don’t cry for the Argentinians just yet, Charm City! Not until you’ve read this riveting TheatreBloom exclusive interview with the actors in the lead roles at the upcoming production of Evita The Audrey Herman Spotlighters Theatre. With a wealth of knowledge on their characters, and great opinions on how this “old school” musical is surging with relevance today’s audiences, we sit down to talk over the characters of Eva Duarte de Perón,

Review: The 39 Steps at Dundalk Community Theatre

Reviews February 27, 2016 Amanda N. Gunther

Everything’s tickety-boo at the Dundalk Community Theatre this February as they bring a thrilling production of Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps to the stage. This thrilling farcical adaptation (thusly adapted by Patrick Barlow) arrives by rail on the mainstage of the John E. Ravekes Theatre in Building K at the College of Baltimore County Dundalk just in time to shake off the winter blues. Directed by Todd Starkey, this racy Hitchcock Masterpiece will have your side-splitting with laughter and the only mystery you’ll need to solve is how to see it again before it’s curtains on the production!

Review: The Wizard of Oz at Suburban Players

Reviews February 22, 2016 Amanda N. Gunther

Somewhere over the beltway, way out east— there’s a church called St. Demetrios, serving up a big Greek feast. Somewhere over in Carny, The Suburban Players know, they are producing a stage dream for the 41st season show. With Director Mark Briner, and Musical Director Patricia DeLisle, go beyond the rainbow for a true community theatre experience with The Wizard of Oz. Classic and charming, this delightful performance lives up to the standards that The Suburban Players have set over the last four decades of performing quality theatre as a community effort.

Review: Catch Me If You Can at Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre

Reviews July 6, 2015 Amanda N. Gunther

People only know what you tell them. And this person is telling you that the best musical experience you’re going to have this summer is at the Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre. Directed by Mark Briner with Musical Direction by Julie Ann Hawk, the area premier of Broadway’s Catch Me If You Can is live in living color under the stars for a limited engagement and it is nothing short of a stupendous dance-musical sensation.

The company of Rent at Phoenix Festival Theatre

Review: Rent at Phoenix Festival Theatre

Reviews September 11, 2014 Amanda N. Gunther

How do you document real life when real life’s getting more like fiction each day? The Phoenix Festival Theatre is documenting the musical that captures that essential message with spectacular brilliance in their current production of Jonathan Larson’s Rent. Directed by Laurie Starkey with Musical Direction by Terri Mathews, this timeless musical of life, love, and humanity comes roaring to life straight off the stage in Harford County with punch,